The ecological footprint measures the amount of land and sea needed to produce the renewable resources consumed by a population, and to absorb its wastes. A one planet ecological footprint evenly divides the amount of biologically productive land and sea available on earth among the earth’s human population. In 2006 there were about 2.0 hectares of biologically productive land and sea available per person. The average ecological footprint of a Vancouverite is between 5 and 6 hectares.
The 33% reduction target represents a first, necessary step on the journey toward the 2050 goal of a one planet per capita ecological footprint for Vancouver. Reductions must be achieved among the five largest components of Vancouver’s ecological footprint: food; transportation; consumables; buildings; waste.
Implementing the other nine Greenest City action plans will get us an estimated 8-10% reduction in ecological footprint. To achieve the remaining 23-25% reduction will require significant action from the rest of the community, particularly in the areas of food and consumables.
